QCOSTARICA – Two commuter trains travelling on the single track in the area of Sabana Sur, collided head on, sending more than 80 people to hospital.
At least three were taken to hospital in “serious” condition, according to the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) responding to the accident with more than 25 units.
The accident occurred some 300 metres west of the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG) in La Sabana Sur.
“When we feel was the impact, broken glass, there was a lot of commotion, many injured, people screaming, everyone wanted out, there was a total chaos,” Tobias Gutiérrez, one of the passengers, who suffered a bruised arm and several cuts, told La Nacion.
The injured were sent to the trauma centre at the Hospital Mexico, and the hospitals San Juan de Dios and Calderon.
The accident occurred minutes before 7:00am.
The cause of the crash is yet unknown.
The accident occurred at a blind curve.
According to Guillermo Santana, President of the Incofer (the railway), the accident is being blamed on “human error”.
Santana added that the failure in radio communication between the two trains (the modern ‘Apollo” trains) and lack of resources by the railway contributed to the accident.
Accidents between the commuter train, vehicles and pedestrians are a daily occurrence. However, this if the first time two traind collided head on.
Photos from La Nacion, Telenoticias
This commuter train service in San Jose is costing much more in injuries, deaths, and property damage than the service is worth. The service should be terminated until it can be replaced with a proper dedicated corridor commuter train service, preferably elevated.
While I do not have anything to say as far as a solution to this type of problem, I will say that this is very typical of the style of government oversight here. This may be a first for a head on collision, but it is a very common thing for trains to be involved in injuries to people. The first time an incident happened, there should have been action instead of placing it on the agenda and waiting years for a solution. The land of “PURA VIDA” is becoming very clouded with too many incidents that are just tucked away within the court system that takes years to process. I could rant for a lot more from personal experience, but it would be off topic for this story.